Corporal Robert E. Anderson, USA, who has been stationed
in England, has landed in France, according to a V-letter received from
him by his mother, Mrs. Mabel Wik, 612 Bolles Street.

Eau Claire Man in Tank Unit at an Invasion Base

HEADQUARTERS, EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS -- Seventy-seven
soldiers from Wisconsin are in an armored unit that never leaves the
ground, but they are as well-acquainted with the importance of
pre-battle "briefing" as their brothers in the Air Force are.

These tank men, in their pre-invasion program, are becoming experts
in every tank job. The gunner knows the radioman's job, the radioman
knows the tank commander's job, and so on down the line. Any crew
member can take over any other member's job, if the need should arise.

And lessons derived from the campaigns in Tunisia, Sicily and Italy
are being applied here in preparation for the coming assault from this
direction.

Officers are making sure that each member of the crew will know the
exact mission of his individual tank. That's where the pre-battle
briefing experience comes in. Each tanker is becoming a proficient map
reader. When possible, he is shown the ground he must cover, the
obstacles he must surmount, and the potential traps he must avoid. This
is done when observation posts and sufficient time exist.

Soldiers manning the medium tanks are receiving intensive instruction
in indirect firing. Tank guns are used like field artillery pieces, with
forward observers directing the fire at targets which the tankers
themselves cannot see.

Teamwork with infantry and artillery units is the secret of success
by an armored unit, with the tankers delivering the power blow,
"The Sunday punch."

Orlyn L.Wik, Fireman Second Class, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Anton Wik, 612 Bolles Street, Eau Claire, has arrived somewhere in the
Pacific, according to an air mail letter from him.

He enlisted in the Navy on September 6, 1944. After 10 weeks of boot
training at Great Lakes, Illinois, he spent seven days at home. Wik took
additional training at Norfolk, Virginia, was placed in the amphibious,
and assigned to an LST. He finished his training at New Orleans,
Louisiana and in California.

Orlyn has two brothers, Sergeant Norman Anderson
with the Ninth Air Force in France and Corporal
Robert Anderson, who is with General Hodges' First Army in the Third
Armored Division in Germany. Both boys have been overseas for two
years.

IN GERMANY
Mrs. Anton Wik, 612 Bolles Street, recently received a V-mail from her
son, Corporal Robert E. Anderson, saying that
he was now in Germany. He is with a tank battalion and fought in the
battles for the liberation of France and Belgium.